StemCell Therapy

There are several tests and tools your doctor may use to diagnose RA. First, he or she may ask questions about your medical history and examine the joints that are bothering you. Next, your doctor may perform tests to confirm a diagnosis, including, but not limited to:

A rheumatoid factor test looks for an antibodyCLOSE Antibody: a proteinproduced by the immune system when it detects harmful substances like bacteriathat fights off infection. called a rheumatoid factor. About 80% of people with RA eventually have this antibody, although its possible to have the rheumatoid factor in your blood and not have RA.

Another test measures your erythrocyte sedimentation rate. People with RA tend to have abnormally high sedimentation rates.

X-rays are used to help determine the extent of damage in the joints that are affected by RA. Plus, a sequence of X-rays taken over time can help to show the progression of the disease.

When it comes to treating RA, early diagnosis and treatment is extremely important because it can help slow disease progression and help prevent joint damage. So if you think you could be suffering from RA, be sure to talk with your doctor about your symptoms.

Link:
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)? | Arthritis.com

This entry was posted on July 28, 2018 at 2:41 am and is filed under Arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |